The 2008 Democratic National Convention was an important moment in political history. The city of Denver was fortunate to host it, and the University of Denver was fortunate to have very close involvement, through Assistant Professor Seth Masket.

With a storied political history, Professor Masket was a delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention (DNC). "I enjoy incorporating these experiences into my classes and using them to provide students with some concrete ideas of what politics and public service is like." This level of engagement is a cornerstone of his courses.

After graduating from UC Berkeley with his BA in Political Science in 1991, Masket attended George Washington and then UCLA, earning both an MA in Political Management, and Ph.D in Political Science, respectively. Masket served as a correspondence writer in the White House from 1993 to 1996 and worked on several campaigns.

"My graduate training led me to believe that I could either be a good researcher or a good educator, but probably not both. I didn't want to have to choose. DU is an environment that holds both scholarship and teaching in high esteem, making it a great fit for me."

Professor Masket is a perfect example of the collaborative interaction between faculty and staff. "I received an NSF grant to study the Democratic and Republican National Conventions during the summer of 2008. With this grant, I was able to hire many students to interview delegates and protesters, and the research has taught us a lot about who attends political conventions, what kind of splits plague the major parties, and how parties can heal those rifts."

In addition, Masket received the Emerging Scholar Award from the American Political Science Association's Political Organizations and Parties section in 2008.

"I remain deeply interested in the structure and behavior of political parties. My book, 'No Middle Ground,' describes how informal networks of donors, activists, and officeholders conspire to keep the parties ideologically extreme by preventing moderates from winning nominations. I have conducted interviews with local party leaders all over Colorado and in several other states, as well, to understand how parties are built and how candidates are recruited."

His efforts outside the classroom translate into an extraordinary experience inside the classroom. "My courses feature a great deal of discussion, some as a class and some as smaller groups within a class. We discuss the course readings and often try to tie them in with ongoing political events. Additionally, I've assigned my students to register voters and encourage voter turnout just prior to major elections." Masket is also committed to providing valuable experiences outside the classroom for his students. "I supervise many internships for students interested in being involved in the political and legal communities in Denver."

But it is the engaging environment that DU offers which truly inspires Masket. "This is one of the few schools I've been at where professors regularly know their students' names and interests. I love those 'Ah-ha!' moments in the classroom, when students figure out that the world doesn't work exactly as they've been told."